DPI Tutorial #1 - Handheld panning

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Without much doubt, the drift photographers preferred technique. If your shots have no life, motionless wheels and solid tyre smoke then you need to read on ...

1 - Body Stance

Stand with your feet a shoulders width apart, with your torse facing the direction the car will be passing. Use your left hand at the end of the lense, right hand on the trigger.

2 - Camera settings

The fastest way to get to your pan shot is to shoot in Tv mode (Shutter priority) You'll need to judge the distance between the car and you and also the speed of the car. Also don't forget to set your focus to AI Servo so that the camera is constantly trying to focus on the moving subject. I personally use a centre spot only along with the AI Servo.

3 - Shutter Speed

This is the trickiest but always remember, start high, then progressively slow your shutter speeds down. Start at 1/125 (For cars at approx 40/50mph) and work down to 1/60. If your feeling lucky try dropping that speed down, but do not expect to come away with too many 'keepers'

4 - Shooting

Do not ever press the shutter button. Gently squeeze your shots off from whilst turning from your waist.

Banned For Trolling

Sitting by a roadside is actually a pretty good way to practice, most of the cars are going at a known rate of speed and you can get a good feel for what works with what speed.

Something I use is try to pick a spot on the car and keep it a certain distance from something in your viewfinder, like the edge or if you have a center "crosshair"(dunno if there is a photo term) try and bead that on one spot of the car and your rate of success should increase quite a bit.

also if you have an autowinder or your camera has a sequence mode or whatever that helps your chances as well.